James Madison University

“If you want to go to JMU, take theNov 19 2009Education
If you want to go to JMU, take the essay seriously, because they really care about that sort of thing. I would strongly recommend that you apply to a learning community. This will give you a step up on everyone else applying to the college you want to get into (education, psychology, biology...), it will help you make friends and have study buddies because you live with people that you have classes with, and it will get you in the best dorm you can get as a freshman. Pretty much everyone who applies gets in because it's a really well kept secret- just write the essays and you're good. Whatever you do, don't ask to live in Lakeside. Those are the WORST dorms you could have, especially Eagle, which is so tall that the ROTC program repels off of it. And it has no A/C! JMU isn't too hard to get into academically, just don't let your grades slip second semester senior year after you've gotten in.
SAT: 2120 Female

“While this isn't UVA or William & Mary, itOct 30 2007Music Education
While this isn't UVA or William & Mary, it is rather difficult to get into JMU. Make sure your GPA is above 3.5, and you have decent ACT/SAT scores, and you're more than half way there. There is an optional essay, DO IT! It could make the difference between who is accepted and who is not.
ACT: 21 Male

“I applied onlineJul 16 2007History/Histories (art history/etc.)
I applied online. I also wrote the optional essay. There is a drive within the school administration to diversify the campus, and if you don't that small chance of affirmitive action to disqualify you put 'other' on the ethnicity questionaire. A plus is do well on SATs and get above a B average in school. Most importantly make sure you emphasize extracurricular activities.
SAT: 1110 Male

“I don't remember if we had to write anJun 07 2007Business - Management and Administration
i don't remember if we had to write an essay or not, either way write a great general essay (maybe from your 12th grade english class) and have that ready in case a school needs one. that's wayyy easier than writing a new one per application.
on all of my college applications i admittedly sucked up, though i didn't stray from the truth. don't be bashful if a school asks what you think you could do for their community (they love that question).
make sure to list ALL of the things you did during your high school years, even if it was for just a week during the summer.
ACT: 23 SAT: 1800 Female

“JMU seems to have become a bit more selectiveJan 18 2007Perfomance Arts
JMU seems to have become a bit more selective over the past few years due to growing popularity, but it's still a perfectly attainable goal for students with only a moderately strong application. However, the application itself is quite short, very simple, and has no essay, so your secondary school report, transcript, recommendations, and SAT/ACT scores are your best ways to show your strengths. (For instace, you have a limited number of spaces to talk about activities and leadership unless you send a resume.) I got in under Early Action with a 2120 on my SAT's (1440 without writing), a 4.3 GPA, a few AP classes and many Honors classes, and mostly A's with occasional B's for grades. I was heavily involved in theater, vocal music, and colorguard, with three leadership positions, one in an honors society and another as captain of the guard. I had received a few random awards/honors in 10th and 11th grade that I recorded. I also sent in a recommendation from a teacher who loved me. My class rank was my only real weakness - I was barely in the top 18% of my class (but I know multiple people with class ranks at least 20 below mine who also got in). When the Early Action letters came, the students with the lowest class ranks seemed to be the ones getting deferred or rejected. I suggest that if you have a real weakness, you need to have an obvious strength to counter it. For instance, a friend of mine with a rather low class rank was accepted early, most likely because he is literally the best singer in our city area and has received a large amount of prestigious music-related awards and honors. Overall, getting in is not that difficult if you are a good (or even just fairly good) student.
SAT: 2120 Female